Academic Services

Academic Services

Table of Contents

Continuing Education
Student Support Services Program
Institutional Support Service
Student Disabilities Services
Chance Program
Intensive English as a Second Language
Graceland University Writing Center
Educational Talent Search
Upward Bound

Continuing Education

A program of continuing education designed to serve persons on and off campus in both credit and noncredit courses is available. Special workshops, institutes, conferences, etc., are scheduled throughout the year and Continuing Education Units can be earned for certain programs when an application is filed and appropriate processing fees are paid.

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Student Support Services Program

This program is sponsored by Graceland University and funded by a TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic university requirements and serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education. The goal of Student Support Services is to increase the retention and graduation rates of its participants. The program offers selected developmental courses, small group tutoring, personal counseling, academic advising, study skills workshops, and a freshman peer mentoring program.

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Institutional Support Service

Graceland provides free tutoring assistance to all students. If a tutor is available, the student will be assigned to a tutoring group. The tutoring groups provide supplemental help and review throughout the entire semester.

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Student Disabilities Services

Graceland University is committed to full compliance with the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As part of the implementation of this law, the university will continue to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities so that they can participate fully in the university’s educational programs and activities. Although Graceland is not required by law to change the fundamental nature or essential curricular components of its programs in order to accommodate the needs of disabled students, the university will provide reasonable academic accommodations.

Students with physical disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Disability Services in Zimmermann Hall before classes start or as early as possible. The office will work with the course instructor and the student to arrange for reasonable accommodations. Students are required at their own expense to provide documentation verifying disability.

The general definition of a student with a disability is any person who has “a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person’s activities, and any person who has a history of, or is regarded as having, such an impairment.”

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Chance Program

Graceland provides specialized clinical services to students who have the potential to do college work, but whose past academic performance has been inhibited by certain learning dysfunctions. Services provided by Chance supplement a carefully structured academic program designed by the student and the program clinicians. The central objective of the Chance Program is to remediate poor reading, writing, and oral language skills so the student might participate fully in the university’s educational program. There is an additional charge for the intensive clinical instruction. Persons interested in the Chance Program should contact the program director.

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Intensive English as a Second Language

Graceland provides a coordinated program of study designed to assist students with English proficiency. The Intensive English as a Second Language program offers 20 hours of classroom instruction per week, individual tutoring, cultural and social events and trips, participation in a host family program, and TOEFL preparation and testing information.

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Graceland University Writing Center

The Graceland University Writing Center provides a supportive environment and attentive assistance to students in any academic program and at any level of writing ability. The Writing Center serves students’ writing needs by acting as a resource for improving their particular writing assignments or the general quality of their writing skills. Writing Center tutors function as experienced, interested readers who collaborate with students at any stage of the writing process to make them more effective and capable writers.

The Writing Center, located on the lower level of the FMS Library in Room 16, is open from 9 - 5 P.M. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; from 9 - 8 P.M. on Tuesday and Thursday; and 3 - 8 P.M. on Sunday. On Wednesday evenings from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M., tutoring is available by appointment only. While we welcome walk-ins, we recommend an appointment to guarantee an available tutor. You may schedule an appointment by calling 5077 or 5078, by signing up on the schedule posted by the Writing Center door or emailing uhlenkam@graceland.edu or lsilver@graceland.edu.

You may also schedule an appointment by logging on to the Writing Center Online scheduler. Go to Graceland Writing Center Online Scheduler , and click on, “If this is your first visit, click here to register an account”. Please fill in all the fields on the form and click on “Register”. After registering, whenever you want to make your next appointment, you may log in to the Graceland Writing Center Online Scheduler find the correct date and tutor and make your reservation.

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Educational Talent Search

Since 1973, Graceland University Educational Talent Search (ETS) has served students ages 11-27 from northern Missouri and southern Iowa. The ETS program, which is funded by a TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education, selects 800 participants each academic year. The ETS staff members provide educational workshops, and field trip opportunities in the areas of study skills, stress management, learning styles, careers, team building, mock job interviews, college shadowing, ACT Test preparation, scholarship searches, student financial aid, FAFSA assistance and in completing college entrance requirements and applications. The main objective of the program is to encourage and assist all student participants to enroll, enter and successfully complete a four year college degree.

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Upward Bound

This program is sponsored by Graceland University and funded by a TRIO grant from the Federal Department of Education. Since the summer of 1966 Graceland University has served youth between the ages of 13-19. Currently it provides services in two counties in Southern Iowa and three counties in Northern Missouri to prepare students for success in postsecondary education. Graceland’s Upward Bound program includes a summer instructional component designed to provide a true “college experience”. Subjects of instruction include mathematics through pre-calculus, laboratory science, English literature and composition, and a foreign language. Mentoring programs, counseling, and exposure to social and cultural events also make up this summer component. During the academic school year these opportunities are provided through Saturday academies held once per month on campus and weekly computer labs held in the lower level of the Frederick Madison Smith Library.

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